Cincinnati loses a pillar of local music to crash

Dave Davis, a longtime music recording expert and Cincinnati music supporter, died Saturday, about a week after a being injured in a crash on the AA Highway. He was 57.

Over the weekend, hundreds of tributes from Cincinnati music makers and fans have poured in. To those who knew him, Davis was an endless source of motivation with a genius intellect who wanted Cincinnati music to get the recognition it deserved.

For decades he did recording mastering at QCA, a record and CD manufacturing business in Camp Washington.

He partnered with John Curley of Afghan Whigs fame to create the former Ultrasuede Studios. He worked with local musician Brad Schnittger to start All Night Party, an innovative music licensing company, which was meant to give musicians another avenue to make a living.

Davis of Sycamore Township also taught audio engineering at the University of Cincinnati and did work with the Cincinnati USA Music Heritage Foundation.

In the early morning of Oct. 26, Davis was driving on the AA Highway in Campbell County near Shortcut Street when he collided with another vehicle. He was seriously injured and flown to University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where he died in the intensive care unit.

Police have not released their findings on what caused the crash.

Schnittger said he met Davis in the late 1990s. Schnittger was still in high school and sold his hockey equipment to buy studio time at Ultrasuede Studios. The two would go on to work together for years.

"My entire adult life, he's been right there by my side," Schnittger said. "He gave me a lot of confidence.

Davis did that for many people, Schnittger said. For him, Davis was a reminder that there were people out there who cared.

"He imparted on everyone that you need to help each other, you need to support each other," Schnittger said.

Curley worked with Davis for nearly 30 years at Ultrasuede Studios. Curley said he was a constant innovator always trying to "out-think the paradigm or re-invent the wheel."

"Most of what Dave did was motivated by a desire to help others," Curley said in a Facebook post. "He was a mentor and guide to many but his manner was so graceful and humble that you rarely were aware of it."

"I’m grateful beyond words for Dave’s friendship and everything that came with it," Curley said.

Dave Purcell has been making music in Cincinnati for about three decades years, notably in the band Pike 27. He first recorded with Davis in 1988. Purcell said he was intimidated because Davis was already "a big deal," but his fears were unfounded.

"He just wanted people to make great music," Purcell said. "He was in the trenches with you to make your songs better."

Purcell said Davis was the first music insider to believe in his songs, and it shaped his entire career.